Stardew ValleyFPS onCore i9-10900KF&GeForce RTX 4090

Stardew Valley

Extremely accessible and runs on almost anything. It is single-threaded with negligible GPU load. However, installing many mods can increase RAM usage to 2-4GB.

This game has a built-in FPS cap of 60 FPS

Stardew Valley - FPS Estimates by Resolution

Actual FPS may vary based on RAM speed, background processes, and other system factors

1080P
low60 FPS
medium60 FPS
high60 FPS
ultra60 FPS
1440P
low60 FPS
medium60 FPS
high60 FPS
ultra58 FPS
4K
low58 FPS
medium60 FPS
high60 FPS
ultra53 FPS

Performance Report

Stardew Valley

GeForce RTX 4090 + Core i9-10900KF
🎮Visual Experience

At 1080p, all quality settings exceed 99 FPS. At 1440p, frame rates range from 58 to 68 FPS. At 4K, frame rates range from 53 to 61 FPS.

Official Requirements

The GeForce RTX 4090 is 1575% above the recommended GPU (GeForce GTX 460) for Stardew Valley. The Core i9-10900KF is 68% above the recommended CPU (Core i3).

⚙️FPS Ceiling Analysis

The GeForce RTX 4090 sets the FPS ceiling at all 1080p settings, all 1440p settings, all 4k settings, while the Core i9-10900KF still has additional frame-generation headroom.

💰Value Analysis

Approximated average price on current market:

GeForce RTX 4090:$1649(updated 2/6/2026)
Official Launch Price: $1599
Core i9-10900KF:$336(updated 2/6/2026)
Official Launch Price: $509

Combo price: $1985. At 1080p Ultra, this combo delivers 99 FPS, equivalent to 0.05 FPS per dollar.

ResolutionLowMediumHighUltra
1080p0.069 fps/$0.069 fps/$0.069 fps/$0.050 fps/$
1440p0.033 fps/$0.034 fps/$0.034 fps/$0.029 fps/$
4k0.029 fps/$0.030 fps/$0.031 fps/$0.027 fps/$

* Table values represent FPS per Dollar (higher is better)

Performance Limiter Analysis

Core i9-10900KF|GeForce RTX 4090

This section is based on estimated CPU/GPU FPS ceilings, not utilization percentages.

📈Analysis

At 4k high, the GeForce RTX 4090 sets the ceiling at about 39 FPS, while the Core i9-10900KF has headroom up to 64 FPS. In this scenario, the GPU limits the CPU potential by 39% (FPS gap: 25 FPS). Overall distribution: GPU limits 12/12 cells, CPU limits 0/12, balanced 0/12.

Verdict

GPU Limits CPU

Your GeForce RTX 4090 is the limiting side in the heaviest mismatch. This means part of the Core i9-10900KF frame-generation potential remains unused in those settings.

🧩Detailed Breakdown
1080p (Full HD)
LowGPU Limits CPU 30%
MediumGPU Limits CPU 29%
HighGPU Limits CPU 30%
UltraGPU Limits CPU 16%
1440p (2K QHD)
LowGPU Limits CPU 25%
MediumGPU Limits CPU 26%
HighGPU Limits CPU 26%
UltraGPU Limits CPU 21%
4K (Ultra HD)
LowGPU Limits CPU 38%
MediumGPU Limits CPU 38%
HighGPU Limits CPU 39%
UltraGPU Limits CPU 38%
Percentages show how much potential FPS of the stronger component is lost because the other component has a lower FPS ceiling.
🧠Methodology

We estimate the maximum FPS the processor can sustain and the maximum FPS the graphics card can sustain in each setting, then compare those limits directly.

Limit Factor formula: (stronger - weaker) / stronger. Example: if CPU ceiling is 200 FPS and GPU ceiling is 140 FPS, then GPU limits CPU by 30%.

CPU Limits GPU means the processor ceiling is lower. GPU Limits CPU means the graphics ceiling is lower. Balanced means the FPS ceilings are close enough that the gap is negligible.

A component can still be the FPS limiter without reaching 100% utilization. The displayed percentages are derived from FPS ceilings, not generic utilization heuristics.

📊Predicted Hardware Utilization for Core i9-10900KF and GeForce RTX 4090

1080p (Full HD)

Low
CPU0% - 1%
<>
GPU0% - 1%
<>
Medium
CPU0% - 1%
<>
GPU0% - 1%
<>
High
CPU0% - 1%
<>
GPU0% - 1%
<>
Ultra
CPU0% - 0%
GPU0% - 1%
<>

1440p (2K QHD)

Low
CPU0% - 1%
<>
GPU0% - 0%
Medium
CPU0% - 1%
<>
GPU0% - 0%
High
CPU0% - 1%
<>
GPU0% - 0%
Ultra
CPU0% - 1%
<>
GPU0% - 0%

4K (Ultra HD)

Low
CPU0% - 1%
<>
GPU2% - 4%
<>
Medium
CPU0% - 1%
<>
GPU2% - 4%
<>
High
CPU0% - 1%
<>
GPU2% - 4%
<>
Ultra
CPU0% - 2%
<>
GPU2% - 4%
<>

Performance Summary

The Core i9-10900KF + GeForce RTX 4090 pairing runs this title with CPU utilization between 0% and 2% and GPU utilization between 0% and 4%. Core i9-10900KF keeps significant headroom across presets, while GeForce RTX 4090 is utilized efficiently without persistent saturation. As resolution scales, average GPU load rises from 0% at 1080p to 3% at 4K, while CPU averages move from 0% to 0%.

Load Interpretation

Neither component is close to saturation: CPU tops out at 2% and GPU at 4%. This pattern suggests possible engine-side limits, an FPS cap, or workload constraints unrelated to raw hardware throughput. It also shows why low utilization does not automatically mean there is no FPS limiter.

Resolution Scaling

At 1080p, averages sit around CPU 0% and GPU 0%. At 1440p, that shifts to CPU 0% and GPU 0%, and at 4K it reaches CPU 0% and GPU 3%. This shows that workload scaling is limited, which can indicate engine-side constraints.

Optimal Settings Recommendation

4K (Ultra HD) Low is the most balanced preset based on this dataset. It runs around CPU 0% (0-1%) and GPU 3% (2-4%), which keeps GeForce RTX 4090 well utilized without constant max-out behavior while Core i9-10900KF remains stable for consistent frame delivery.

Upgrade Insight

Current utilization does not show an urgent upgrade requirement for either component; the Core i9-10900KF and GeForce RTX 4090 remain reasonably matched for this title.

Understanding Hardware Utilization: These percentages represent how much of your component's maximum processing power is actively being used during gameplay. They describe hardware load, but they do not directly tell you which component sets the FPS ceiling.

Important: a CPU or GPU can still be the FPS limiter without reaching 100% utilization. Two processors can both show 40% usage and still deliver very different frame rates, depending on per-core speed, cache, engine threading, driver overhead, and frame preparation efficiency.

  • High GPU Load: You typically want to see High GPU Utilization (90%+) and moderate CPU usage when visual settings are heavy. This indicates the graphics pipeline is under strong load, but the exact FPS limiter should still be confirmed by the FPS ceiling analysis.
  • High CPU Load: If you see High CPU Utilization (85%+) paired with lower GPU utilization, the processor is handling a disproportionate share of frame preparation and game logic. That can point to CPU-side pressure, but it should not be treated as a direct replacement for FPS ceiling analysis.
  • Low CPU and GPU Load: If both CPU and GPU utilization are relatively low, it means the hardware is waiting on something else. This could be a game engine limitation, poorly optimized code, or an artificial framerate cap like VSync holding performance back. It does not mean both parts are equally fast in FPS terms.

Data generated by our Machine Learning engine trained on real-world benchmarks. Shows the approximate average utilization at each setting.

Stardew Valley Requirements Comparison

See how your processor and graphics card compare against the game official minimum and recommended system specs. The placement of your hardware is calculated using relative synthetic performance scores to help you gauge overall playability.

CPU - Core i9-10900KF
cpu icon
22,231
Your Score
MinimumCore 2 Duo
RecommendedCore i3
GPU - GeForce RTX 4090
gpu icon
38,112
Your Score
MinimumGeForce 7 series
RecommendedGeForce GTX 460

Your CPU is 68% above and your GPU is 1575% above the recommended specs. Ultra settings at 1080p, or High at 1440p/4K.

CPU

+68%vsrecommended

GPU

+1575%vsrecommended

CPU

+915%vsminimum

GPU

+26004%vsminimum

Minimum Requirements
Video Card: GeForce 7 series
Processor: Core 2 Duo
Memory: 2 GB
Disk Space: 500 MB
System: Windows 10
Recommended Requirements
Video Card: GeForce GTX 460
Processor: Core i3
Memory: 4 GB
Disk Space: 1 GB
System: Windows 10

Frequently Asked Questions

1Can the Core i9-10900KF and GeForce RTX 4090 run Stardew Valley well?

Yes, the Core i9-10900KF paired with the GeForce RTX 4090 can run Stardew Valley smoothly up to 1080p achieving around 99 FPS at Ultra quality. Your GPU is 1575% above the recommended specs, and your CPU is 68% above the recommended requirements.

2Is there a more cost-effective setup to run Stardew Valley?

This CPU + GPU combo costs approximately $1985 ($336 CPU (Rank #290 Value) + $1649 GPU (Rank #77 Value)). Your GeForce RTX 4090 provides phenomenal top-tier performance but at a premium enthusiast price. Since you are essentially at the ceiling of current hardware capabilities, there are no meaningful performance upgrades available. However, if you wanted a more cost-effective build that still delivers a great experience, you could theoretically step down to a high-end card with a significantly better value rating.

3Which component should I upgrade first to improve Stardew Valley performance?

Your GeForce RTX 4090 is already a top-tier graphics card. While it's technically the limiting factor here (which means you are fully utilizing your GPU's visual horsepower exactly as intended), there is no meaningful upgrade path that would drastically improve your Stardew Valley performance right now. GPU fully utilized at: 1080p low, 1080p medium, 1080p high, 1080p ultra, 1440p low, 1440p medium, 1440p high, 1440p ultra, 4k low, 4k medium, 4k high, 4k ultra.

4Does this setup support Frame Generation for Stardew Valley?

Stardew Valley does not currently support Frame Generation technologies like DLSS 3 or FSR 3. Your performance is based entirely on native rendering. If the game adds support in a future update, newer GPUs will benefit the most.

5What are the minimum and recommended specs for Stardew Valley?

Stardew Valley requires at minimum a Core 2 Duo (CPU) and GeForce 7 series (GPU) with 2 GB RAM and 500 MB storage. For the recommended experience, you need a Core i3 and GeForce GTX 460 with 4 GB RAM. Your Core i9-10900KF and GeForce RTX 4090 both exceed the recommended specs, so you're well-positioned for a great experience.

6How accurate are these Stardew Valley FPS estimates for the Core i9-10900KF and GeForce RTX 4090?

These Stardew Valley FPS results are not arbitrary numbers. They come from calculations informed by thousands of real gaming benchmarks, and the typical accuracy range is around 10% to 15%. That makes them far more useful than generic FPS calculators that simply invent values without a benchmark foundation. Actual in-game performance can still vary with drivers, updates, RAM configuration, cooling, and the exact scene being rendered.

Performance estimates are based on synthetic benchmarks and hardware capabilities.

Results may vary based on drivers, OS, and background processes.